Introduction – Despite the numerous anti-smoking measures implemented, smoking remains a major public health issue in France. The role of social norms is crucial in this context. This study analyzes perceptions of smoking among people aged 18–75 in mainland France in 2022, examining how these perceptions vary according to sociodemographic characteristics and how they have changed over time. Methods – The data used were drawn from the 2022 Baromètre santé – Prévention tabac telephone survey. The randomly selected sample comprised a total of 3,229 individuals aged 18 to 75 living in mainland France. For certain analyses, data from the 2005, 2010, and 2017 Santé publique France surveys were also used. Results – In 2022, 66.6% of respondents believe that society disapproves of smoking, and 52.6% believe that smokers are less accepted today. Perceptions vary according to smoking status and sociodemographic characteristics. Among smokers, 86.3% agree with the statement: “The people who matter to you think you shouldn’t smoke.” Smokers who want to quit are more likely to agree with this perception. Between 2005 and 2022, perceptions regarding the denormalization of smoking became widespread, although in more recent years, certain signs seem to indicate a reversal of this trend: for example, in 2022, 27.3% of people agreed with the statement “smoking helps you feel more comfortable in a group,” compared to 21.7% in 2017. Conclusion – The results suggest a reduction in social norms favorable to smoking in mainland France, which will need to be confirmed in future surveys. Social disparities persist. Campaigns and denormalization interventions should target the groups most affected by smoking.